Agriculture is the backbone of any country’s security; this industry rarely suffers from fluctuations in demand. A country that relies on its agricultural products for income creates the foundation for a strong economy.
10th place. Japan
Agriculture remains an important industry in Japan’s economy, although its share of GDP is about 2.0%. The country’s agriculture employs 4.1 million people (6.6% of all workers). The dwarf type of farms prevails – sometimes a plot of land has less than 0.5 hectares. Japan satisfies 70% of its food needs through domestic production, including full satisfaction of demand for rice. Livestock is not so well developed: the small size of the country does not allow to allocate space for pastures and fodder crops. Therefore, animals are kept on imported fodder, mainly corn. Fishing plays a big role in providing the population with food. Marine products provide 40% of the animal protein in the Japanese diet.
9th place. Argentina
Food production is traditionally one of the main sectors of the economy (8-9% of GDP). Agriculture in Argentina almost completely satisfies its own food needs, especially the production of grains and oilseeds, which are also exported. The country ranks second in South America and third in the world in soybean production and export. Virtually 100 percent of soybeans produced are of transgenic origin. Agricultural land covers 138 million hectares in the country, ¼ of it is crops and ¾ is grassland and pasture. Livestock is very well developed, especially cattle – Argentine meat is exported to many countries, as is milk.
8th place. Turkey
57% of the population is employed in agriculture. It accounts for about a quarter of the country’s GDP, and the share of agricultural products in exports in some years up to 60%. Crop production occupies the leading position in Turkish agriculture structure – about 58%, livestock production – 30%, flax cultivation – 6%. Turkey ranks 3rd in Europe by the area of cultivated land (24.9 million hectares). Grain crops occupy 85% of the areas under crops.
7th place. Pakistan
Pakistan not only covers its agricultural needs, but is also a net food exporter. The country exports rice, cotton, fish, fruits (especially oranges and mangoes) and vegetables. Pakistan is the largest market for camels in Asia, the second largest market for apricots and ghee, and the third largest market for cotton, onions, and milk. The most important crops are wheat, sugarcane, cotton, and rice, which together account for more than 75% of the total crop value. Livestock accounts for almost 11% of Pakistan’s GDP, which is even more than the crop sector.
6th place. Nigeria
Agriculture employs 65% of the population. The main food crops are yams, yams and corn. Cocoa beans (340 million tons), natural rubber (112 million tons) and cotton (0.4 million tons) are also grown. 31.29% of the land is cultivated. The main export crops are cocoa beans, peanuts, soybeans, rubber trees, oil palm, sugar cane, and cotton. Nigeria is one of the main producers of peanuts, cocoa beans and soybeans on the African continent. The constant demand for Nigerian cocoa (the country ranks 4th in the world in terms of production) is due to its high taste qualities. Most farms are focused on the cultivation of cocoa beans; falling world cocoa prices usually lead to a sharp decline in income and impoverishment in rural areas. Pineapples, bananas, beans, potatoes, cassava, corn, mangoes, papaya, millet, rice, sorghum, tobacco, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and yams are also grown.
5th place. Brazil
The country is in the top three in terms of agricultural production. Thus, Brazil supplies the world market with about 6% of all agricultural products of the planet. Brazil is primarily the production of coffee, soybeans, corn, sugarcane, cocoa and bananas. In recent years, Brazil has been harvesting at least 600 million tons of cane annually. This figure is a record in the world. Corn is the most widespread of all grains: Brazil harvests two crops of it every year. Brazil is an excellent pastoral economy (the amount of grasslands is very rich), the total number of cattle has reached 170 million, well developed pig breeding (30 million pigs), sheep breeding (20 million sheep), fish farming, etc.
4th place. Israel
Israel pays the most serious attention to the development of industrial agriculture, despite the fact that only 20% of the land in the natural environment is suitable for agricultural production. The main branches of agriculture are citrus fruits, vegetables, cotton, beef, poultry and dairy cattle. Despite the far from ideal agroclimatic conditions, the country has become a major exporter of fresh vegetables, flowers and a world leader in agricultural technology. Israel provides 95% of its own food needs, importing only cereals, oilseeds, meat, coffee, cocoa and sugar. 15% of its production is destined for export markets. Israel mainly exports vegetable products: potatoes, peppers, avocados, carrots, flowers, herbs, salads and more. These products are exported to markets in Europe, America and the Far East. The agricultural industry is characterized by a close relationship with science. In recent years, cherry tomatoes a little larger than the size of a cherry, bush cultivated batch watermelons with an average weight of about 500 grams, strawberries, which are grown on trellises.
3rd place. U.S.
Aggregate income from agriculture: $290 billion. Cultivated land, grasslands, pastures occupy almost half of the U.S. territory. Agriculture employs only 3% of the population. The average size of farms in the country is about 50 hectares. Crop production in the USA is the leader of agrarian complex of the country. Grain crops cover 2/3 of all the land. By gross crop the USA is the 3rd in the world after China and India. But it is the first in corn and soybeans. The main cereal crop is wheat, which is harvested in excess of 90 million tons. Corn is the national crop of the United States, which accounts for almost half of the world’s harvest. Legumes occupy a special place, their harvest reaches 3/5 of the world volume. Agriculture not only provides for the country’s needs, but also for export. The United States is a leader in the development and cultivation of genetically modified field crops.
2nd place. India
Aggregate income from agriculture $4134 billion, it employs more than half of the country’s population. Farmers predominantly grow rice; wheat is the second most sown area. Other important crops, in descending order of acreage, are sorghum, pearl millet, corn, and millet. All of these tend to be grown on relatively infertile soils unsuitable for rice or wheat, while growing corn is preferred in hilly and mountainous areas. Legumes, of which chickpeas are the most common, are the main source of protein for most Indians, since the consumption of animal products is either a luxury or forbidden for religious reasons. Sugarcane, peanuts, coconuts, mustard, cotton and rape seeds, tobacco and tea are widely cultivated. Although Indians eat little meat, livestock plays an important role in the agricultural economy. Today India has the largest herd of cows in the world.
1st place. China
The total income from agriculture in the country is $ 1 trillion 88 billion, China has 95 million hectares of cultivated land. Often three or more crops are harvested from a single cultivated area in two years. In South China, many fields produce three main crops and up to five vegetable crops per year. Agriculture in China has been shaped by its vast territory and varied climatic conditions. The country produces about 500 million tons of grain, including 185 million tons of rice. Among food crops, wheat ranks second in importance. And by the collection of corn (over 100 million tons per year), the country ranks second after the U.S. in the world. The country is one of the world’s largest suppliers of many varieties of tea. Millet, oats, hayfields, rye, buckwheat are also grown. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are the root crops and soybeans are grown as well.